Mercury, Elemental and Inorganic Compounds

Right to Know

Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet

Common Name: MERCURY, ELEMENTAL AND INORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Synonyms: Colloidal Mercury; Quicksilver CAS Number: 7439-97-6 Chemical Name: Mercury RTK Substance Number: 1183 Date: May 2009 Revision: November 2009 DOT Number: UN 2809

Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE Mercury is a heavy, silvery, liquid metal. It is used for gold Hazard Summary recovery and in dental amalgams, thermometers, barometers Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA and other gauges, and in dry cell batteries. HEALTH 3 - FLAMMABILITY 0 - REACTIVITY 0 - CORROSIVE POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE Reasons for Citation f Mercury is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP, Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe IARC, IRIS and EPA. f This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List. f Mercury can affect you when inhaled and may be absorbed through the skin.

f Contact can irritate the skin and eyes.

f Inhaling Mercury can irritate the nose, throat and lungs.

f Exposure can cause metallic taste in the mouth, nausea and

vomiting, and abdominal pain. f Mercury may cause a skin allergy and make the skin turn SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. gray. f Repeated exposure can cause Mercury poisoning with FIRST AID tremors, personality changes, trouble remembering and concentrating, and gum problems. f Mercury may damage the kidneys. Eye Contact f Mercury is a DOT CORROSIVE material. f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention Workplace Exposure Limits immediately. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 3 0.1 mg/m averaged over an 8-hour workshift. Skin Contact f Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. 3 Seek medical attention immediately. 0.05 mg/m (as Mercury vapor) averaged over a 10-hour workshift and 0.1 mg/m3 (as Mercury), not to

be exceeded at any time. Inhalation f Remove the person from exposure. 3 f Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 0.025 mg/m breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. averaged over an 8-hour workshift. f Transfer promptly to a medical facility. f The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though EMERGENCY NUMBERS air levels are less than the limits listed above. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802

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Determining Your Exposure Other Effects f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data f Mercury can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure may Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, phlegm, and/or ingredients and important safety and health information shortness of breath. about the product mixture. f Mercury may cause a skin allergy. If allergy develops, very low future exposure can cause itching and a skin rash. f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New f Long-term contact can cause the skin to turn gray, brown Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact staining in the eyes, and may affect peripheral vision (ability Sheet, available on the RTK website to see to the sides). f Repeated exposure or a very high single exposure can (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK cause Mercury poisoning. Symptoms include tremors Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. (shaking), trouble remembering and concentrating, gum f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey problems, increased salivation, loss of appetite and weight, Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Public and changes in mood and personality. These can be severe and cause hallucinating and psychosis. Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act f Mercury may damage the kidneys. if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you are a private worker. Medical f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most Medical Testing employers to label chemicals in the workplace and For frequent or potentially high exposure (half the TLV or requires public employers to provide their employees with greater), the following are recommended before beginning information concerning chemical hazards and controls. work and at regular times after that: The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication f Exam of the nervous system (including handwriting test to Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide detect early hand tremor) similar information and training to their employees. f Urine Mercury level (usually less than 0.02 mg/liter) f Kidney function tests This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other following is recommended: factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. f Lung function tests f Exam of the eyes and vision f Evaluation by a qualified allergist can help diagnose skin allergy. Health Hazard Information Acute Health Effects Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for immediately or shortly after exposure to Mercury: damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure. f Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. f Inhaling Mercury can irritate the nose, throat and lungs Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee f Exposure can cause metallic taste in the mouth, nausea and Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). vomiting, and abdominal pain. Mixed Exposures f Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, Chronic Health Effects emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if some time after exposure to Mercury and can last for months you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce or years: your risk of developing health problems.

f Creams to whiten or bleach skin may contain Mercury. If Cancer Hazard you use them, you may be at increased risk of Mercury f While Mercury has been tested, it is not classifiable as to its poisoning. A high fish diet, especially of marine predatory potential to cause cancer. fish (fish-eating fish), also may increase your blood Mercury levels. Reproductive Hazard f There is limited evidence that Mercury may cause an increase in spontaneous abortions and menstrual disorders in exposed women. f There is limited evidence that Mercury may affect male fertility. f Mercury may also damage the developing fetus in animals. MERCURY, ELEMENTAL AND INORGANIC COMPOUNDS Page 3 of 6

Workplace Controls and Practices Eye Protection Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or f Wear non-vented, impact resistant goggles when working sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less with fumes, gases, or vapors. toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures f If additional protection is needed for the entire face, use in include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely combination with a face shield. A face shield should not be irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust used without another type of eye protection. ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control Respiratory Protection exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control should only be used if the employer has implemented a written Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. program that takes into account workplace conditions, requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and The following work practices are also recommended: medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory f Label process containers. Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Provide employees with hazard information and training. 3 f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. f Where the potential exists for exposure over 0.05 mg/m (as 3 3 f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed Mercury vapor), or over 0.1 mg/m but less than 1 mg/m recommended exposure levels. (as Mercury), use a NIOSH approved half-mask respirator f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. with cartridges specific for Mercury vapor. These cartridges f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous have end of service life indicators (ESLI) which visually material. indicate when filters must be changed. f Always wash at the end of the workshift. f If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can smell, f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes taste, or otherwise detect Mercury, or if while wearing contaminated. particulate filters abnormal resistance to breathing is f Do not take contaminated clothing home. experienced, or eye irritation occurs while wearing a full f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. facepiece respirator, leave the area immediately. Check to f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, being handled, processed or stored. replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, you may need a new respirator. applying cosmetics or using the toilet. f Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your workplace. You may need a combination of filters, prefilters

or cartridges to protect against different forms of a chemical In addition, the following may be useful or required: (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. f Where the potential exists for exposure over 0.5 mg/m3 (as f For clean-up, use a specialized charcoal-filtered vacuum or Mercury vapor) or over 1 mg/m3 (as Mercury), use a suction pump to avoid generating Mercury vapor. Do not NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece disturb spilled material. operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. Personal Protective Equipment 3 f Exposure to 10 mg/m (as Mercury) is immediately The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposure 3 1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate above 10 mg/m exists, use a NIOSH approved self- personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode employees on how and when to use protective equipment. equipped with an emergency escape air cylinder.

The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply to every situation. Fire Hazards If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained Gloves and Clothing and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard f Avoid skin contact with Mercury. Wear personal protective (29 CFR 1910.156). equipment made from material which can not be permeated

or degraded by this substance. Safety equipment suppliers f Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of and manufacturers can provide recommendations on the surrounding fire. Mercury itself does not burn. most protective glove and clothing material for your f POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE. operation. f Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. f Safety equipment manufacturers recommend Butyl, Nitrile, Neoprene, Polyvinyl Chloride, Silver Shield®/4H® and Viton for gloves, and Tychem® fabrics, or the equivalent, as protective materials for clothing. f All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should be clean, available each day, and put on before work.

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Spills and Emergencies Occupational Health Information If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be Resources properly trained and equipped. The OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (29 CFR The New Jersey Department of Health offers multiple services 1910.120) may apply. in occupational health. These services include providing informational resources, educational materials, public If Mercury is spilled or leaked, take the following steps: presentations, and industrial hygiene and medical investigations and evaluations. f Evacuate personnel and secure and control entrance to the area. f Eliminate all ignition sources. For more information, please contact: f Cover with a Sulfur compound to keep from vaporizing and

collect with a charcoal filter vacuum. Kits specific for the clean-up of Mercury spills are available. DO NOT USE a New Jersey Department of Health regular or shop vacuum. Right to Know f Use Zinc or Copper flakes and a flashlight to check for PO Box 368 remaining Mercury after clean-up. Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 f Ventilate and wash area of spill or leak. Phone: 609-984-2202 f DO NOT wash into sewer. Fax: 609-984-7407 f It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Mercury as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Department of E-mail: [email protected] Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional office of the Web address: http://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. The Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets

are not intended to be copied and sold

for commercial purposes. Handling and Storage Prior to working with Mercury you should be trained on its proper handling and storage.

f Mercury reacts with ACETYLENE to form explosive Acetylide. f Mercury can form explosive compounds with AMMONIA and will explode when mixed with CHLORINE DIOXIDE; OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC); and METHYL AZIDE. f Mercury is not compatible with COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS; METALS (such as ALUMINUM and COPPER); CALCIUM; SODIUM CARBIDE; AMINES; LITHIUM; and RUBIDIUM. f Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area.

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GLOSSARY

3 ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial mg/m means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. Hygienists. They publish guidelines called Threshold Limit It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). Values (TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) are established is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations by the EPA. They describe the risk to humans resulting from can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer. once-in-a lifetime, or rare, exposure to airborne chemicals. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies Boiling point is the temperature at which a substance can substances according to their fire and explosion hazard. change its physical state from a liquid to a gas. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, conducts studies of workplace hazards, and The CAS number is unique, identifying number, assigned by proposes standards to OSHA. the Chemical Abstracts Service, to a specific chemical. NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests chemicals CFR is the Code of Federal Regulations, which are the and reviews evidence for cancer. regulations of the United States government. OSHA is the federal Occupational Safety and Health A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety standards. A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes destruction of human skin or severe corrosion of containers. PEOSHA is the New Jersey Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act, which adopts and enforces health and DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental safety standards in public workplaces. Protection. Permeated is the movement of chemicals through protective DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency materials. that regulates the transportation of chemicals. ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal measure of concentration by volume in air. agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. Protective Action Criteria (PAC) are values established by ERG is the Emergency Response Guidebook. It is a guide for the Department of Energy and are based on AEGLs and emergency responders for transportation emergencies ERPGs. They are used for emergency planning of chemical involving hazardous substances. release events.

Emergency Response Planning Guideline (ERPG) values A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases provide estimates of concentration ranges where one energy under certain conditions. reasonably might anticipate observing adverse effects. STEL is a Short Term Exposure Limit which is usually a 15- A fetus is an unborn human or animal. minute exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during a work day. A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will ignite easily and burn rapidly. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by damaging the fetus. The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. UEL or Upper Explosive Limit is the highest concentration in air above which there is too much fuel (gas or vapor) to begin a IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a reaction or explosion. scientific group. Vapor Density is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of Ionization Potential is the amount of energy needed to one gas to the weight of another (usually Hydrogen), at the remove an electron from an atom or molecule. It is measured same temperature and pressure. in electron volts. The vapor pressure is a force exerted by the vapor in IRIS is the Integrated Risk Information System database on equilibrium with the solid or liquid phase of the same human health effects that may result from exposure to various substance. The higher the vapor pressure the higher chemicals, maintained by federal EPA. concentration of the substance in air.

LEL or Lower Explosive Limit, is the lowest concentration of a combustible substance (gas or vapor) in the air capable of continuing an explosion.

Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet

Common Name: MERCURY, ELEMENTAL AND INORGANIC COMPOUNDS Synonyms: Colloidal Mercury; Quicksilver CAS No: 7439-97-6 Molecular Formula: Hg RTK Substance No: 1183 Description: Heavy, silvery, liquid metal

HAZARD DATA Hazard Rating Firefighting Reactivity 3 - Health Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for Mercury reacts with ACETYLENE to form explosive Acetylide. type of surrounding fire. Mercury itself Mercury can form explosive compounds with AMMONIA and will 0 - Fire does not burn. explode when mixed with CHLORINE DIOXIDE; OXIDIZING 0 - Reactivity POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, FIRE. PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, DOT#: UN 2809 Use water spray to keep fire-exposed BROMINE and FLUORINE); STRONG ACIDS (such as ERG Guide #: 172 containers cool. HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC); and METHYL AZIDE. Hazard Class: 8 Mercury is not compatible with COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS; (Corrosive) METALS (such as ALUMINUM and COPPER); CALCIUM; SODIUM CARBIDE; AMINES; LITHIUM; and RUBIDIUM.

SPILL/LEAKS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Isolation Distance: Odor Threshold: Odorless Flash Point: Nonflammable Spill: 50 meters (150 feet) Vapor Density: 6.9 (air = 1) Fire: 500 meters (1/3 mile) Vapor Pressure: 0.002 mm Hg at 77oF (25oC) Cover spill with a Sulfur compound to prevent Specific Gravity: 13.6 (water = 1) vaporization and collect with a charcoal filter vacuum. Water Solubility: Insoluble Use Zinc or Copper flakes and a flashlight to check for Boiling Point: 674oF (357oC) remaining Mercury after clean-up. Melting Point: -38oF (-39oC) Mercury is very toxic to aquatic life and Ionization Potential: 10.4 eV bioaccumulates. Molecular Weight: 200.6

EXPOSURE LIMITS PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT NIOSH: 0.05 mg/m3, 10-hr TWA (as Mercury vapor) 3 Gloves: Butyl, Nitrile, Neoprene, Polyvinyl Chloride, Silver 0.1 mg/m , Ceiling (as Mercury) Shield®/4H® and Viton (>8-hr breakthrough) 3 ACGIH: 0.025 mg/m , 8-hr TWA (as Mercury) Coveralls: Tychem® fabrics (>8-hr breakthrough) IDLH: 10 mg/m3 (as Mercury) Respirator: >0.025 mg/m3 - full facepiece APR with cartridges specific The Protective Action Criteria values are: for Mercury 3 PAC-1 = 0.3 mg/m >0.3 mg/m3 - SCBA PAC-2 = 2.05 mg/m3 3 PAC-3 = 4.1 mg/m

HEALTH EFFECTS FIRST AID AND DECONTAMINATION Eyes: Irritation Remove the person from exposure. Flush eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove Skin: Irritation contact lenses if worn. Seek medical attention immediately. Inhalation: Nose, throat and lung irritation with

coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of Quickly remove contaminated clothing and wash contaminated skin with breath large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.

Nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain Begin artificial respiration if breathing has stopped and CPR if necessary. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. November 2009